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Communities in West Virginia offers residents a welcoming atmosphere, affordable cost of living, and a strong sense of connection to nature and neighbors alike. From charming small towns to vibrant cities like Charleston and Morgantown, West Virginia communities provide friendly neighborhoods, excellent schools, and access to outdoor recreation right at your doorstep. Residents enjoy a slower pace of life surrounded by the state’s beautiful mountains, rivers, and forests, along with rich local culture, historic sites, and community events that bring people together. With safe streets, local businesses, and a true spirit of Appalachian hospitality, living in West Virginia communities means enjoying a high quality of life and a supportive, tight-knit environment where everyone feels at home. Be sure to visit our Communities Travel Guide for information about communities in West Virginia.

Snowshoe Mountain has unveiled its 2026 summer events calendar.
Communities

Snowshoe Mountain announces 2026 summer events, launches new music fest

by David Sibray

SNOWSHOE, W.Va. — Officials at Snowshoe Mountain, in Pocahontas County, have unveiled the resort complex’s 2026 summer events calendar, highlighted by the launch of its new “Ballhooter Festival,” a new three-day mountaintop music festival scheduled for Labor Day weekend, Sept. 4-6. Patti Duncan, president and chief operating officer of Snowshoe Mountain, said the resort complex … Read more

Memorial Day weekend travel in West Virginia
Communities

Memorial Day weekend travel in West Virginia expected to surge as summer begins

by Clyde Craig

BECKLEY, W.Va. — Memorial Day weekend this year is expected to bring record travel across the U.S., and West Virginia officials, tourism businesses, and travelers are preparing for crowded highways, full campgrounds, and busy outdoor destinations. The American Automobile Association (AAA) projects that 45 million Americans will travel at least 50 miles from home during … Read more

Pawpaws are among the shade-loving plants that thrive beneath Appalachian hardwood canopies. (WVU Photo/ Raymond Thompson)
Communities

Appalachian medicinal plants and edibles can support rural economies, says WVU professor

by Clyde Craig

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — If carefully managed, Appalachian medicinal plants and edibles can help support rural economies and preserve centuries of traditional knowledge, says a West Virginia University professor. Kirsten Stephan, program coordinator of forestry at the university, says nature has conspired to create remarkably diverse forests in Appalachia, and their management can benefit generations globally … Read more

The Frontier-to-Statehood Preservation Fund will provide up to 10 grants of as much as $100,000 each for the rehabilitation of certified historic structures dating to 1871 or earlier.
Communities

Grants of up to $100,000 available in W.Va. for pre-1872 preservation projects

by Clyde Craig

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — As part of the nation’s 250th-anniversary commemoration, officials at the Preservation Alliance of West Virginia have announced a new grant program to support the preservation and adaptive reuse of historic buildings tied to the state’s early history. The Frontier-to-Statehood Preservation Fund, funded through the National Park Service’s Paul Bruhn Historic Revitalization Grant … Read more

"Ascend Heroes" will attract veterans with financial incentives, providing opportunities for them to live and work in West Virginia.
Communities

West Virginia launches “Ascend Heroes” initiative to attract veterans

by David Sibray

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – West Virginia has launched an initiative to attract veterans to the state. According to state officials, “Ascend Heroes” will attract veterans with financial incentives, providing opportunities for them to live and work in the state. Created in partnership with the state government, the Wing-2-Wing Foundation, and West Virginia University, the Ascend West … Read more

Appalachian Escapes: Straight out of the ’80s: David Sibray, Nate Adams, and Rachel Adkins swap stories in a replica Pizza Hut. (Photo: Holly K. Clark)
Communities

This may look like a 1980s Pizza Hut, but it’s a vacation rental in West Virginia

by David Sibray

Fayetteville, W.Va. — What began as a search for an affordable retirement option has turned into one of southern West Virginia’s most imaginative tourism ventures. Nate Adams and his wife, Rachel Adkins, are the founders of Appalachian Escapes, a growing collection of themed vacation rentals near the New River that combine art, storytelling, and Appalachian culture. … Read more

Stars spin above the Hanging Rock Raptor Observatory.
Communities

Nightfall’s Value: Light pollution can diminish real estate worth in W.Va.

by Bianca Bosworth

WINFIELD, W.Va. — An increasing number of new West Virginia residents are being drawn to its rolling hills and quiet valleys to escape brightly lit cities and reclaim the enchantment of pitch‑dark night skies. But while the dark skies represent a precious amenity, the creeping glare of artificial lighting—known as light pollution—is quietly eroding the … Read more